The Blick continues to apply pressure to Amb. Suzi. In a hard-hitting article today, Blick quotes Swiss ski lift managers as saying that waiting for ski lifts in Switzerland is organized differently than in the US and that Suzi is insensitive to cultural differences. Peter Kraft, a ski resort tester and CEO of skiresort.de, said: "She is simply not used to the way it's done. This is a cultural matter."

In fairness to the awkward, amateur US ambassador, we need to recognize that she apparently grew up in a cocoon. Switzerland must be very strange to Amb. Suzi. Much of the US, and even Seattle, would be strange to her too.

True sure, but I do NOT remember another US ambassador who so much got involved into Swiss matters as she does. And I am sure that she on intent is provoking and wants to hear objections, protests and hints about this and that.

And she apparently knows how to wake up locals, natives and foreigners alike. I would love to be in that section of the DC State Department where they get her info.

I remember the day where one would yell out, "SINGLE!" and then look for the raised poles which meant come on up - there is an empty seat in our group. Everyone knew you were coming through to fill a seat (rather than just being a complete D-bag and cutting).

Then lifties got smart and put a single lane where folks could naturally fill in the gaps.

Seriously - WTF is up with ski lines over here? Cultured and refined? Evidence points to the contrary.

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I think that she usually uses the "V.I.P." lifts in the U.S.A. so never mixed with the hoi-polloi or realised that other people were on the slopes and pushing to get to the front of the queue. Where are her bodyguards? Don`t tell me.

After personally reading Suzi LeVine's post in FB, I found nothing wrong with her questioning. She analyzed the situation correctly (chaotic queues) and asked politely for understanding and mastery of the situation.

Switzerland's media reaction is rather deplorable to say the least. The Ambassador was asking for help and the media made her into a incompetent nincompoop.

If anything, this is a typical clash of culture using stereotypical features:

1. Americans being straightforward and asking for help on an issue, which is a sign of strength in the US culture.
2. The Swiss finding the idea of asking for help as a sign of weakness in the Swiss culture.

I hope Suzi reads this so she'll understand what happened.

__________________“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Anais Nin

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Single lanes also exist in many resorts here, especially on the larger chair lifts and gondolas.

PaddyG: This may be the case but in Central Switzerland, I have yet to see this. I find standing in line at a ski lift very competitive. I work out a strategy to keep people from passing me by finding any available space in front of me, no matter how small, and pushing my way into that space. I'll manouver skis, lean into people and use my poles to gain any edge I can. Apologies are not allowed and the feeling of success in passing the person next to me is satisfying.

Otherwise, I'm quite patient and passive.

__________________“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Anais Nin

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there are 2 types of US Ambassadors, (1) spies, and (2) persons to whom political favors are owed who are either not smart or not powerful enough to be trusted under number (1). you should take the fact that Amb. Levine clearly falls under the latter as an indication of the level of strategic importance the US places on the country of Switzerland.

in other words, I don't think the fact that Blick is taking time from posting pictorials of local farm girls to take some pot shots at Amb. Levine is going to get much attention back in the States. put another way, it is going to get about the same level of attention in the US as her appearance on Joiz a while back.

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Swiss ski resort were built in the 70s or so, and nothing changed on a major scale. Same system, same lifts, etc. The only thing that changes constantly, is the price. CHF 80 per person for a day? Come on.

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I remember the day where one would yell out, "SINGLE!" and then look for the raised poles which meant come on up - there is an empty seat in our group. Everyone knew you were coming through to fill a seat (rather than just being a complete D-bag and cutting).

Then lifties got smart and put a single lane where folks could naturally fill in the gaps.

Seriously - WTF is up with ski lines over here? Cultured and refined? Evidence points to the contrary.

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Swiss ski resort were built in the 70s or so, and nothing changed on a major scale. Same system, same lifts, etc.

What a silly generalization. E.g. at St. Moritz/Corviglia where I ski rather often they have gotten rid of almost all the old-fashioned ski-lifts and replaced them with fast and comfortable high-capacity chairlifts.

Oh yeah, they've got single lines too.

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Which is correct. If you were required to merge earlier, there wouldn't be 2km of extra lane.

Tom

Yes, it goes much quicker that way. They do it in Germany as well but if you try it in England you will most likely need a new paint job if not new teeth. I have seen signs in Switzerland explaining how it works. Ressverschlusssystem they call it and any search engine will provide lots of images. I don`t know why there are no signs erected about it in England.

PaddyG: This may be the case but in Central Switzerland, I have yet to see this. I find standing in line at a ski lift very competitive. I work out a strategy to keep people from passing me by finding any available space in front of me, no matter how small, and pushing my way into that space. I'll manouver skis, lean into people and use my poles to gain any edge I can. Apologies are not allowed and the feeling of success in passing the person next to me is satisfying.